The Problem is not Hip Hop
April 20, 2007
I agree with Russell that art, in most cases, is a direct reflection of what the artist sees. It seems as if we have put the cart before the horse. We assume that if we change music, we will change the mistreatment of women. In order to kill womanizing, we must destroy it at its source, and the source is our community. Let’s be honest, misogyny was not created with Hip Hop. We see the mistreatment of women in Religion, Corporate America, in commercials, on television, and in magazines. All of which have a wider demographic than most Hip Hop Music. When I was a child I remember hearing older women telling their daughters, that they should be seen and not heard. If women raised to be trophies, then men must have been raised to treat them as objects. This problem is generational.
I am blessed to have come from a strong mother who was raised by my phenomenal grandmother, and a strong father who taught me how to be a man, after his father showed him. Unfortunately, too many men grow up without a father to teach them how to treat a women, and too many girls are not taught how to be women. Let’s not make this about the art, lets make this about us.
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Well, I think that the problem with most of us is that we dwell on the negative. For every baby mama or ho, there is at least one woman who is taking care of her business and doing the right things with her life.
Rarely do we hear rappers or singers talk about the positive things in their lives - their mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, etc. who are wonderful, loving beings.
You have to speak it into existence in order for it to be - girls won’t strive to be video hoes if we give them other examples to follow.
Comment by Diddy — April 21, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
Well, what about Ludacris. He was crucified by Oprah for writing “Ho” early in his career, but I have yet to hear Oprah comment on his new song “Run Away”. You’re right the problem is that we dwell on the negative, but that pendulum swings both ways. I can name a bunch of positive songs, some done by the same rappers, that these people crucify, but we are too busy dwelling on their negative songs. Lynne D. Johnson has a great post on her page.
Comment by Markus — April 21, 2007 @ 10:08 pm
I don’t think making a clean song will put you in the clear. If he made a public statement saying he will be changing his lyrical content and all of his albums in the future then it might satisfy his critics.
Firstly I’d like to give my stance on the matter. I think a change in hip-hop lyrics would be a step in a positive direction. Although, I don’t want anyone ‘forced’ to change. Ludacris can sing about what he wants and shouldn’t have to satisfy his critics. I don’t think Imus should of had been fired for the same reasons. He has done a lot of positive things too but similarly doesn’t make his comments any less distasteful.
I agree that the media focuses on the negative but that is unfortunately what people like to watch. I don’t know the solution to that problem, hopefully it’s just a phase any wired society goes through.
I think the root to most problems are poverty, ignorance, and lack of positive influences. Usually they go hand-in-hand with each other. Just to name a few, the byproducts of these are violence, drug-use, and ultimately filthy lyrics (Simmons says so himself).
Good parents are the best source of positive influence and you are lucky to have them. What makes a good parent though? What makes them so dedicated to their children? Please someone tell me the main factors that convinces a human that their children are more important than money, sex, and even themselves. What is the X factor, is it God? This will be your answer.
Comment by Shaker — April 22, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
Very good points Shaker. Ludacris has made quite a bit of positive music, unfortunately Runaway was the only one to get radio rotation. I mentioned this example because Ludacris for a while became the poster child for womanizing, which to me is not fair considering some of his previous songs. I don’t believe there’s anything Luda can do to get out of the dog house.
What makes good parents? Very good question. I believe that good parents raise good parents. It’s generational. My parents were brought up believing that family came first, and then in turn brought us up believing the same. The only way we can reverse the cycle is to show current and future generations what good parents are. I hope the world is not waiting for the entertainment industry to do this.
Comment by Markus — April 22, 2007 @ 3:20 pm
Ludacris is probably not a bad person. I personally won’t feel sorry for him nor will attack him or call for his firing. If he changes for the long run, more power to him. I want him to make a change because it’s his decision, not the record companies or his execs. It will mean alot more to his listeners and fans if he does this himself.
I agree that having good parents is very important factor in being a good parent yourself. Of course this isn’t always true nor a prerequisite to becoming a good parent. Sometimes it isn’t good enough. Someone else that a young person looks up to (whether it be Oprah, Ludacris, or God) has the power to steer them in a positive direction.
Comment by Shaker — April 22, 2007 @ 4:51 pm